Archive: Africa

Two senior noncommissioned officers from African partner nations were inducted into the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy’s International Military Student Hall of Fame recently.
Master Warrant Officer Dickson Owusu, sergeant major of the Ghana Army, and Warrant Officer One Patric Ekirita, forces sergeant major of Uganda Peoples Defence Forces, took part in an induction ceremony at the academy’s Kenneth W. Cooper Lecture Center.
“NCOs attending the course is truly a win-win situation for the U.S. Army and for the sending country,” said U.S. Army Africa Command Sgt. Maj. Hu Rhodes, who attended the ceremony.

Cadets from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, participated in a weeklong leadership training workshop this month in cities throughout Uganda with the Ugandan Peoples Defense Force (UPDF).
The first phase of the training consisted of classroom instruction with Tanzanian instructors, physical training and familiarization with Ugandan military tactics.
Tanzanian Army Maj. Paul Masinde, officer in charge of training at the Junior Staff College (JSC), at Jinja, said that the instruction is crucial for those in leadership positions.
“The school instills methods to help junior officers perform,” he said.

Soldiers from the Iowa-based 949th Veterinary Company, U.S. Army National Guard, united with veterinarians from Ghana's 37th Military Hospital during MEDFLAG 11 to learn from each other and to work together. Occurring July 11 to July 21 and sponsored by U.S. Army Africa, MEDFLAG 11 strengthens the relationship and interoperability between the U.S. and Ghana military forces through 10 days of collaborative training and sharing of medical expertise, as well as joint humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) in local communities.

MEDFLAG 11, a joint humanitarian assistance exercise between U.S. and Ghana Armed Forces, came to an end today with a culminating event at the nearby Ghana army base, Burma Camp. Sponsored by U.S. Army Africa, the bilateral MEDFLAG 11 exercise strengthened the relationship between the U.S. and Ghana through 10 days of collaborative training and sharing of medical expertise, as well as joint humanitarian civilian assistance in local communities.

Cadets from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis visited the Tanzanian People's Defense Force (TPDF) Naval Command Training Center in Dar Es Salaam, for training recently. The students came at the invitation of the Tanzanian government to visit TPDF junior officers and exchange training philosophies, best practices on leadership styles and introduce the junior officers to one another to facilitate future working relationships.

According to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, sub-Saharan Africa is clearly among the most religious places in the world. Religion is a critical structure in sub-Saharan African society given the widespread reality of failed states and collapsing governments. "Following years of civil war we are helping them re-establish their chaplaincies," said Chaplain (Sgt. 1st Class) Timothy Eye. "Across the board we have been trying to help [African nations] professionalize their chaplaincies."

Amb. Vicki Huddleston, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Africa, Office of the Secretary of Defense, visits U.S. Army Africa (USARAF) July 11, 2011. The ambassador meets with command leaders and shares her perspective on the Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) program.

About 100 U.S. Soldiers experienced firsthand the vibrant history and culture of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana July 17 while participating in MEDFLAG 11. The Ghana Army-sponsored cultural day was one of the many examples of kindness the Ghana Armed Forces has shown to U.S. servicemembers, who traveled here to work side-by-side with their GAF counterparts in the joint humanitarian assistance exercise.

Soldiers from the 965th Dental Company, U.S. Army Reserve Texas, and the 814th Medical Company of the North Dakota Army National Guard, shared information with Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) medical personnel about U.S. dental practices July 18 during MEDFLAG 11. The GAF and 965th Dental Co. participated in group instruction to ensure both teams leave MEDFLAG 11 with a better understanding of their own capabilities while learning new ways to do their jobs more efficiently.

A team of U.S. Soldiers from the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion, an Army Reserve unit from Connecticut, partnered with Ghana's National Disaster Management Organization during MEDFLAG 11 to implement a malaria outreach program and train disaster volunteers on basic first aid skills.

Various types of equipment and ammunition were delivered to Morocco on June 30 at the Casablanca Port as a result of two Excess Defense Articles foreign military sales cases originating from the Army Security Assistance Command.

U.S. Army Africa Commander, Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, recently flew more than 3,700 miles to the Kenya Army School of Infantry in Isiolo to watch a special infantry demonstration of Kenyan troops training on the M-24 and .50-caliber weapon systems.

At the request of the Burundian military, U.S. Army Africa's Africa Deployment Assistance Partnership Team conducted a deployment capability training event with uniformed members of the Burundian Defense Forces June 6-10, 2011, at the Bujumbura Military Airfield in Bujumbura, Burundi.

Chris Zahner, U.S. Army Africa's (USARAF) Logistics Office Chief of Surface Transportation, was recently named U.S. Army's Transportation Corps Regimental Civilian of the Year for 2011. Todd Johnston, USARAF's chief of mobility, said he nominated Zahner because he doesn't just know about 'moving' things, he knows how it should route, who to talk to, who does it best in which port, and which office/minister/official to coordinate USARAF cargo movement through borders smoothly.

The first portion of MEDFLAG 11 has strengthened the relationship between the U.S. and Ghana through five days of collaborative training, during which medical expertise is shared by the joint-team effort to improve medical treatment in their home countries.

Vera Frater will leave her position as secretary to the commanding general of U.S. Army Africa, and leaving behinc a legacy of working with eight commanding generals during her 13-year tenure. “It’s been exciting working for the Army,” said Frater. “Every day is different, so there is a lot of variety. All the people I worked for and with have been so good and kind. It’s really been a blast. I have been very, very fortunate.”

When traveling to Africa, USARAF personnel should carry a small survival pouch known as a fly-away kit. It contains compact emergency gear complete with iodine water purification tablets and has all the tools to help travelers survive in isolated locations for short periods of time. “I advise that people going to the African continent only drink purified water,” said John Whitley, director of USARAF Personnel Recovery. Whitley and the crew at the recovery directorate are responsible for ensuring that USARAF travelers are prepared for travel to Africa. The directorate provides training and the emergency kits for travelers from the command.

Ghanaian and U.S. participated together July 14 in a joint noncommissioned officer-led promotion ceremony at Burma Camp, Accra, Ghana for Staff Sgt. Jennifer Shook, of the U.S. Army National Guard. The ceremony was just one example of the many times the NCOs of both armies have already worked together during the bilateral MEDFLAG 11. Beginning July 11, MEDFLAG 11 is a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Ghana armed forces through 10 days of collaborative training and sharing of medical expertise, as well as joint humanitarian civic assistance in local communities.

Algerian Land Forces Commander Major General Ahcene Tafer met with U.S. Army Africa Commander MG David R. Hogg and toured the command’s headquarters in Vicenza, Italy, June 15. Hogg visited Algeria in December 2010, so this was a chance for him to offer Tafer the same type of welcome he was given during his visit there.

The 405th Brigade Support Battalion of North Riverside, Ill., was in in Accra, Ghana, July 13, playing an active role in MEDFLAG 11. Sponsored by U.S. Army Africa, the bilateral MEDFLAG 11 exercise will strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and Ghana through 10 days of collaborative training and sharing of medical expertise, as well as joint humanitarian civic assistance in local communities. MEDFLAG is the 405th BSB’s first mission as a unit, marking a great milestone of success for the team.

Two U.S. Army Africa (USARAF) Soldiers trained members of the Ghanaian Defense Forces recently at Bendasi Training Site, Accra, Ghana, as part of the ongoing Africa Contingency Operations Training & Assistance (ACOTA) program.

MEDFLAG 11, a joint humanitarian assistance exercise between U.S. and Ghana Armed Forces, kicked off July 11 with an opening ceremony at the nearby Ghanaian army base, Burma Camp. Sponsored by U.S. Army Africa, the bilateral MEDFLAG 11 exercise will strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and Ghana through 10 days of collaborative training and sharing of medical expertise, as well as joint humanitarian civilian assistance in local communities.

A U.S. Army Africa Soldier born in Ghana returns home to Accra as a participant in the bilateral medical forces exercise known as MEDFLAG 11. For Sgt. Mark L. Kwansah, it’s a homecoming with a mission.

U.S. Army Africa Commander, Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg joined dignitaries from all parts of the Veneto Region to celebrate Italy’s National Day. He along with several hundred Italian servicemen and military veteran’s gathered in a formal ceremony to commemorate Italy’s National Day and celebrated the Italian Republic's 150th Anniversary in the Piazza del Signore, Vicenza, Italy.

Six Army cadets from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and six midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., arrived at the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, May 26, 2011, to better understand the role of U.S. forces in the area.

Medreach 11 is a U.S. Army Africa-run exercise designed to enhance U.S. and Malawian military medical capabilities and enhance the two militaries’ ability to work together during a humanitarian emergency or other crisis. In addition to humanitarian and civic assistance outreach projects, a major emphasis during the exercise was on training: in the classroom, in training lanes and ultimately, during a field training exercise.

Exercise African Lion 11 is joint and bi-lateral exercise between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States that involves more than 2,000 U.S. servicemembers and approximately 900 members of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, between April 25 and June 18.

Soldiers of the 848th Forward Surgical Team participating in exercise African Lion 11 organized a rehearsal medical evacuation with the Moroccan military May 8, 2011. Exercise African Lion is a joint exercise involving U.S. Army, Navy and Marines, and the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces that consists of peacekeeping operations, humanitarian civic assistance operations and construction projects.

A three-day USARAF staff ride May 24-26, 2011, followed a route in northern Italy through the mountains of western Slovenia where the 1917 battle of Caporetto was fought. Italian military history experts provided participants the benefit of their vast knowledge of each and every memorial and battlefield during the ride.

More than 35 Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) servicemembers climbed aboard two CH-53 Super Stallion Helicopters on May 30, Memorial Day, and traveled to some of Djibouti’s most remote regions to honor CJTF-HOA members who lost their lives in two separate aircraft accidents.

Life-changing events can become the norm during a medical readiness education and training exercises conducted in tandem with U.S. Army Africa's MEDREACH 11 mission in Malawi. That mission, featuring medical training exchanges between U.S. and Malawi Defense Force members, included three medical and dental outreach clinics that delivered care to the Malawian people. "There is nothing quite so gratifying as that moment when the bandages come off and the patients realize they can see," said Army Lt. Col. (Dr.) Darrell "Casey" Carlton, assistant officer-in-charge for the eye clinic at the Lions Sight First Eye Hospital. "It's a life-changing change for them."

Soldiers from the 399th Combat Support Hospital instructed Malawi Defence Force (MDF) medical staff and Soldiers from the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Battalion, May 5, at the Kamuzu Barracks, on a variety of procedures to help them better respond to combat-related injuries. The four-day course is designed to be an information-sharing exercise between the MDF and U.S. Soldiers participating in MEDREACH 11, a joint humanitarian medical exercise taking place in Malawi. "Their Soldiers are very intelligent," said 1st Lt. Jason J. Proulx, a Combat Life Saver instructor with the 399th Combat Support Hospital in Mass. "They are asking very appropriate questions and answering appropriately. I have no doubt that there will be a 100 percent pass rate."

Soldiers from the 399th Combat Support Hospital instructed Malawi Defence Force (MDF) medical staff and Soldiers from the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Battalion, May 5, at the Kamuzu Barracks, on a variety of procedures to help them better respond to combat-related injuries. The four-day course is designed to be an information-sharing exercise between the MDF and U.S. Soldiers participating in MEDREACH 11, a joint humanitarian medical exercise taking place in Malawi.

Article and images supporting a four-day course that is designed to be an information-sharing exercise between the Malawi Defence Force and U.S. Soldiers participating in MEDREACH 11, a joint humanitarian medical exercise taking place in Malawi.

Malawi Defence Force (MDF) and U.S. military servicemembers officially kicked-off exercise MEDREACH 11, May 3, with an opening ceremony at the Kamuzu Barracks. The program brought the MDF shoulder to shoulder with the United States military in a symbolic display of the unity that has been created between the two forces.

Atlas Drop 11, an annual joint aerial-delivery exercise sponsored by U.S. Army Africa (USARAF), brings together U.S. Soldiers with their counterparts from the Ugandan People's Defense Forces (UPDF), and is designed to enhance the readiness of both countries' resupply and logistical capabilities.

April 25 was World Malaria Day, commemorating medical, scientific and community efforts worldwide to control the tropical disease. For a fourth year, world communities are recognizing progress to find vaccines and the impact that malaria has in tropical locales. According to Col. Alfonso S. Alarcon, U.S. Army Africa Command Surgeon, World Malaria Day has a special significance for USARAF troops.

U.S. Army Spc. Juan Salazar, Company D, 418th Civil Affairs Battalion, was awarded the U.S. Army Commendation Medal by Brig. Gen. William Glasgow, deputy commander, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), in a ceremony March 29, 2011 at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Salazar, from Kansas City, Mo., was recognized for acts of heroism Sept. 1, 2010, in Uganda where he saved the lives of a Ugandan People's Defense Force soldier and the life of Spc. Scott Alexander of the 418th, when a truck in which they were traveling through Moroto District was swept away while fording a stream, killing the civilian Ugandan driver.

A team of Soldiers from the U.S. Army's 402nd Civil Affairs Battalion teamed up with townspeople in Dikhil, Djibouti, this month to renovate the region's only high school. The goal of the two-month project, which began April 16, is to renovate six classrooms and an office with a new ceiling, windows, doors, lighting fixtures, blackboards and a fresh coat of paint.

Exercise Atlas Drop 11 came to a close with a ceremony at Drop Zone Blue near Olilim, Uganda, April 20 following three days of aerial-delivery resupply practice missions. "Soldiers have had the opportunity to learn and to develop friendships and partnerships with the Soldiers they've worked with here from the UPDF," said Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, commander, U.S. Army Africa. "For us, that is absolutely invaluable. This has been a successful exercise. A lot of work, but it was well worth it."

The 405th Army Field Support Battalion-Italy prepared a shipment of humanitarian aid supplies in support of a U.S. Agency for International Development Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance mission to Libya.

U.S. Army Africa (USARAF) intelligence assets extended a helping hand to their African continent counterparts in Bamako, Mali, recently. A total of 18 students from various African nations took part in a six-week Military Intelligence Professional Course (MIPC) that was conducted in French and English, said Maj. Kevin Cahill, USARAF Intelligence Security Cooperation section.

As part of a two-man theater contact team, U.S. Army Africa (USARAF) Majs. Allen Staley and David Sensiba worked with the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) to exchange information on military behavioral health from March 26 through April 1. More than 30 MDF Soldiers participated in the exchange.

Soldiers from the Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) and the U.S. Georgia Army National Guard have been training and living together in the bush north of Soroti as part of Atlas Drop 11. Infantrymen, cavalry scouts and pathfinders from 3rd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, and soldiers from UPDF's 27th Infantry Battalion have been training alongside each other on patrolling and clearing aerial-resupply drop zones in three locations in the Olilim and Kapelebyong areas.

U.S. Army Africa senior noncommissioned officer, Command Sgt. Maj. Hu Rhodes, and a delegation conducted an NCO Senior Leader Visit in the Republic of South Africa to meet with the country's Land Forces Senior Chief Warrant Officer Mothusi Victor Kgaladi and South African Army Staff recently. Soldiers gathered together to enhance senior NCO relationships between active and reserve Senior Chief Warrant Officers and included tours of the armor, airborne and artillery regiments.

- It's often said that hard work pays off. And that adage rings especially true for three years in a row as Soldiers of Headquarters Support Company (HSC), U. S. Army Africa (USARAF), took top honors in the U. S. Army Europe (USAREUR) Supply Excellence Awards. Capt. Craig Porte and Cpl. Ben Roalson represented their unit at the USAREUR Combined Logistics Excellence Awards (CLEA) ceremony at Patrick Henry Village Pavilion Tuesday.

U.S. Army 402nd Civil Affairs Battalion and a multi-service mix of American military personnel based at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, oversaw the delivery of seven cisterns to the Dikhil Hospital on March 22. The cisterns, purchased by the 402nd CAB, will benefit roughly 88,000 people in the region who use the Dikhil Hospital and its outlying village clinics. The increased water storage capacity will help medical staff improve hygiene and reduce infections and maternal death rates.

The system is set to change several areas of Army budgeting, purchasing, finance and fiscal management. GFEBS benefits extend beyond the financial arena, offering new and improved capabilities for Army-wide interoperability while increasing quality and effectiveness, reducing cycle time and variance to free human and financial resources for higher priorities.

Following more than two weeks at sea supporting Operation Odyssey-Dawn, 22 of 26 U.S. Army Africa (USARAF) Soldiers were greeted by several Family members and their commander, Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, March 31 at USARAF Headquarters Building. In a short ceremony, Hogg thanked the assembled team for their work in support of the operation.

For Army Lt. Col Leamond "Bo" Stuart, a 40-year-old Special Forces soldier from Atlanta, Ga., the order to deploy happened fast and the prospect of serving on a ship seemed like an interesting opportunity. "My wife was a little disappointed that I was going to be gone on yet another deployment," said Stuart. "We really didn't have much time to think about it."

Four Kenyan Defense Force sergeants major, representing their Army, Navy and Air Force branches, visited the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), March 14-16, 2011, to gain a better understanding of American noncommissioned officer leadership style. The visit came in the aftermath of remarks made at the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) change of command ceremony, held March 9 in Stuttgart, Germany, where incoming commander, U.S. Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, remarked on the importance of having a strong NCO corps.

Lt. Col. Stephen Salerno, Judge Advocate for U.S. Army Africa's (USARAF) Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (OSJA) recently provided a week of stability-focused legal instruction in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRoC). The weeklong event, hosted by the Defense Institute for International Legal Studies (DIILS), included classes on refugee rights under international law; internal armed conflict and the law; and counter-insurgency doctrine. DIILS is the lead Department of Defense security cooperation resource for professional legal education, training and rule-of-law programs.

The New York Army National Guard Soldiers are determined to excel in a world-class marksmanship competition in South Africa in May.
Eight Soldiers will take part in the South African National Defense Force 2011 Regional Combat Rifle Competition. The competition pits Soldiers from around the world and Africa in friendly competition.

Four Kenyan Defense Force sergeants major, representing their Army, Navy and Air Force branches, visited the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), March 14-16, 2011, to gain a better understanding of American noncommissioned officer leadership style. The visit came in the aftermath of remarks made at the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) change of command ceremony, held March 9 in Stuttgart, Germany, where incoming commander, U.S. Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, remarked on the importance of having a strong NCO corps.

Lt. Col. Stephen Salerno, Judge Advocate for U.S. Army Africa's (USARAF) Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (OSJA) recently provided a week of stability-focused legal instruction in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRoC). The weeklong event, hosted by the Defense Institute for International Legal Studies (DIILS), included classes on refugee rights under international law; internal armed conflict and the law; and counter-insurgency doctrine. DIILS is the lead Department of Defense security cooperation resource for professional legal education, training and rule-of-law programs.

When members of the Senegal army serve in peacekeeping operations in other African nations, they're known as a force for good, said a former U.S. Army attachAfA to that country.
On March 12-18, Senegalese officers visited with Fort Leavenworth's Center for Army Lessons Learned to further their professional abilities. Senegal wants to stand up a similar organization in its country. Also, U.S. CALL employees got the chance to ask Senegalese about their experience in peacekeeping operations in Africa.

Coalition forces enforcing a no-fly zone in Libya to halt the slaughter of citizens by Moammar Gadhafi "have gone to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties," Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today.

U.S. military actions in Libya are being conducted as part of a broad multinational coalition and in direct support of a United Nations mandate designed to set conditions for other coalition partners to play larger roles enforcing the no-fly zone there, President Barack Obama said today.

Forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi are retreating from the opposition stronghold of Benghazi following coalition attacks to protect Libyan civilians over the weekend, said Gen. Carter F. Ham, U.S. Africa Command commander.

More than 120 U.S. Army Africa (USARAF) Soldiers and civilians participated in a Trans-Sahel Region Conference March 14-16 in Vicenza, Italy. The USARAF-sponsored conference featured nearly a dozen presenters, including two former U.S. ambassadors and several renowned academics from across the United States.

Beginning March 12, students from the Arta Culinary School began a four-weekend round of hosting American Civil Affairs volunteers Camp Lemmonier, Djibouti, for a cultural exchange that focused on culinary arts and the pleasure of shared meals. The dishes prepared are intended to be affordable and made from scratch. Most importantly, all the ingredients are easily available at local supermarkets so students can share their knowledge with their community.

A group of Air Force pararescuemen and a Army Site Security Team (SST) from the Kansas Army National Guard, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, conducted a rescue mission in the Grand Bara Desert, Djibouti, Feb. 26, 2011. Complete with actors representing local nationals, the exercise afforded the teams a realistic training experience similar to what they might encounter at any time in the African operating area.

Two U.S. Army Africa (USARAF) chaplains traveled to Burundi Feb. 13-16 to conduct a capability and capacity assessment of combat and operational stress experienced by Burundian peacekeepers recently returned from deployment to Mogadishu, Somalia.

Brig. Gen. James D. Owens Jr. has been selected and assigned to U.S. Army Africa as a Deputy Commanding General. With this assignment, approved by Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey in February, Owens replaces Maj. Gen. David S. Elmo, who has been re-assigned to U.S. Army Europe. Owens joins Brig. Gen. Isaac Osborne, who has been a member of the U.S. Army Africa leadership team since January 2010, as one of two USARAF deputy commanders. Both Owens and Osborne serve as deputies to Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, commander, U.S. Army Africa.

In Tanzania, citizens wake up to the sun and sound of birds as they always do. They also go to work and worry about the normal concerns of living. Today will be the same for them - but very soon it will be different, many lives will change. This is the scenario that participants of the Tanzania Pandemic Disaster Response Exercise been presented with. After two days of plenary talks, facilitated lectures and lessons-learned discussions, they are now applying what they have learned.

Under an overcast sky, nearly 200 members of the Djiboutian Army's elite 1st Rapid Action Regiment honed their infantry skills, mentored by members of the U.S. Army National Guard's 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment. The training included instruction on squad movements, convoy operations, contact drills, camp security and marksmanship, and was part of a one-month course which began Jan. 16 and culminated with a graduation Feb. 10. The instruction included mortar crew training and a combat engineering course, according to U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nelson Perkins, mission commander and member of Charlie Company.

U.S. Army General Carter F. Ham assumed command of U.S. Africa Command from General William E. Ward during a ceremony March 9, 2011, at the Stadthalle in Sindelfingen, Germany, on the outskirts of Stuttgart.

Members of the Kenyan Ministry of Defense and Kenyan Army Engineers Civil Affairs Teams (KCA), 12th Headquarters Engineers Brigade, partnered with U.S. military units assigned to Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa recently to conduct civil-military operations (CMO) operations in Manda Bay, Kenya. This crucial engagement allowed Kenyan soldiers to build a practical application of their civil affairs knowledge and share best practices and lessons-learned with their U.S. counterparts.

U.S. Army Africa continues to contribute support to the African Union (AU), including strengthening the mission capabilities and interoperability of the African Standby Force (ASF) and its sub-regional elements.

Enjoying an afternoon of snow and sun, laughing children and smiling adults scatter along the sledding slop, whizzing down the hill or watching others go by in Garmisch, Germany. On a recent weekend 22 U.S. Army Africa couples and their 42 children went to Edelweiss Lodge and Resort for a Strong Bonds marriage retreat. "This weekend put our lives on pause so we could breathe each other in again," said Amiia Coffey, whose husband recently returned from deployment. "It let us step away from our crazy lives to focus on each other and how different we are."

In the latest episode of a long-term partnership between the 3rd Battalion, 405th Army Field Support Brigade and the U.S. Agency for International Development, workers at Leghorn Army Depot, Italy, prepared tons of humanitarian aid for delivery to Tunisia.

Command Sgt. Maj. Hu Rhodes joined U.S. Army Africa as its senior noncommissioned officer in an assumption of responsibility ceremony Feb. 17 at Caserma Ederle in Vicenza, Italy. "Thank you all for attending today," said U.S. Army Africa Commander, Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg. "This is an important ceremony for this command."

Commander of the Kenyan Army, Lt. Gen. Njuki Mwaniki, met with U.S. Army Africa leaders and toured the command's headquarters in Vicenza, Italy, Feb. 23-25. In addition to meeting with U.S. Army Africa Commander, Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, Mwaniki delivered a presentation on border security issues affecting Kenya and toured some of the installation's skills training facilities and Battle Command Training Center.

Sgt. Ken D. Turman II of U.S. Army Africa became a U.S. Army Culinary Arts Team (USACAT), the only military team to compete in the 2010 the Culinary World Cup. "The Culinary World Cup was an amazing experience for me," said Turman. "One that did not become 'real' until we climbed up on that stage and met with chefs from all over the world."

Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, commander, U.S. Army Africa, treated 21 World Geography students from Vicenza Middle School to an in-depth geography lesson Tuesday. Hogg brought a unique insight into Africa's culture and shared several souvenirs from his own collection to include various masks, money, jewelry, and a voodoo bottle. Hogg said it was a great opportunity to interact with the middle school and talk about Africa.

Col. Alfonso Alarcon, U.S. Army Africa (USARAF) Command Surgeon, attended the Army Reserve Medical Command's (AR-MEDCOM) Commanders Training Workshop (CTW) Feb. 11 in Tampa, Fla., on behalf of USARAF Commander, Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg. He addressed 340 senior leaders from the AR-MEDCOM during the opening day of the three-day conference to describe USARAF's missions and to stress how their medical talents are producing positive results throughout his command's area of operations.

U.S. Africa Command concluded the main planning conference for Africa Endeavor 2011 in Bamako, Mali, Jan. 27, after four days of deliberation and exercise planning sessions. Africa Endeavor is an annual, multinational communications exercise that focuses on interoperability and information sharing among participating nations. "The goal of Africa Endeavor is to improve the communications, command, control and information capabilities of African militaries so as to strengthen African stand-by forces," said Maj. Gen. Gabriel Poudiougou, Chief of Staff of the Malian armed forces at the opening ceremony.

Dozens of scholars, politicians and soldiers gathered in Marrakech, Morocco, Jan. 20-22 for the second annual convocation of the Marrakech Security Forum. U.S. Army Africa (USARAF) Commander, Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, attended the event, which was hosted by the African Federation for Strategic Studies (FAES) with support from the Moroccan Center for Strategic Studies (CMES).

Three Soldiers from 3rd Medical Command (Deployment Support), based in Atlanta, Ga., conducted military medical exchanges with approximately 25 soldiers of the Mauritanian Medical Services in Nouakchott, Mauritania, Jan. 10-20. Two weeklong sessions focused on medical evacuation techniques, and field sanitation and preventive medicine, said Lt. Col. Tim Doherty. The Mauritanian participants included physicians, nurses, planners and medics, he said.

children of Chomoni, Comoros, once had a broken building of a school with holes in the walls, corroded interiors and desks with jagged edges. That is, until the Joint Civil Affairs Team (JCAT) 101 from the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa undertook a project to rebuild the Chomoni Primary School for Children with the help of the townspeople. "We have been expecting help from many people for a long time, but the Americans came and fulfilled that promise," said Farid Ali, headmaster of the school. "I want to thank the civil affairs team for working here, and the U.S. government for allowing the kids to have a proper education."

Two Soldiers from the 402nd Civil Affairs Battalion Functional Specialty Team took on a traveling contact team mission to Kigali, Rwanda, recently to facilitate a flight medic operations seminar for Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) battalion medical officers. The Soldiers and their Rwandan hosts studied and exchanged ideas on medical evacuation procedures in support of the Rwandans' pre-deployment preparations for the United Nations - African Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

The Army War College dedicated two days to bring together government, civilian and military experts to talk over the issues, challenges and potential success stories for the African continent during a regional symposium Feb. 1-2.

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) hosted its second annual C4ISR Senior Leaders Conference Feb. 2-4 at Caserma Ederle, headquarters of U.S. Army Africa, in Vicenza, Italy. The communications and intelligence community event, hosted by Brig. Gen. Robert Ferrell, AFRICOM C4 director, drew approximately 80 senior leaders from diverse U.S. military and government branches and agencies, as well as representatives of African nations and the African Union.

West Point Cadet Dan Thueneman (Class of 2011) was looking for an opportunity not only to experience something that most would never know, but also to volunteer his time to others who were in need. Thueneman traveled to the rural community of Mukono district of Uganda for 11 days to volunteer with the non-governmental organization called A Broader View.

FORT BENNING, GA. - As a young boy growing up in Uganda, Joseph D'costa became inspired by America's role in World War II and told his teacher he wanted to go to the U.S. Military Academy someday. "She laughed at me for my dream of going to West Point, telling me it would be impossible because I wasn't an American and Uganda had no ties to the U.S.," he recalled. "I still remember that to this day."

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Marilynn Bradley, senior maintenance technician for U.S. Army Africa G-4 (Logistics), received the Samuel Sharpe Award from the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps Association at a ceremony in Longare, Italy, Jan. 21. Bradley was nominated for her exemplary work as chief of material readiness and for her work on U.S. Army Africa mortuary affairs policy. She will leave U.S. Army Africa in near future for an assignment at Fort Eustis, Va.

Rural school headmasters in Dikhil, Djibouti, about 120 kilometers west of the capital, participated in a two-day basic first-aid training class Jan. 8-9. Maj. Cynthia McPherson describes the mission from a personal point of view.

Two United Stated Army Africa personnel from the Directorate of Logistics conducted a deployment capability assessment with uniformed and civilian members of the Burundian Defense Forces in Bujumbura, the capital, Dec. 14-17, 2010.